Pad and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a pad for clothes, such as a shoulder pad, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the precise positioning of a shape memory material is maintained, while the safety of a pad is improved. A shape memory material is contained in a pouch-like body, and the pouch-like body is positioned in the pad materials. In the pouch-like body, the precise positioning of the shape memory material is achieved by forming an opening and by providing a positioning part. The shape memory material is inserted into the opening and is positioned adjacent to the positioning part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a pad for clothes, such as a shoulder pad, anda manufacturing method of the pad.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a pad for clothes, such as a shoulder pad, has beenimproved by positioning a shape memory material, such as a shape memoryalloy or a shape memory resin, to enhance pad retentivity. Particularly,this type of pad has an advantage of keeping a good shape of the pad.For example, a pad changes shape when the pad contacts the wearer whohas a body temperature which leads to rise the temperature of the pad toa thermal expansion temperature. The memory material maintains the shapeof the pad even after the shape of the pad has changed with storage fora long time or with a wash of clothes.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 63-11591(11519/1988) discloses a shoulder pad wherein a linear material made ofa shape memory alloy is inserted into and passed through an inner partwhere a plurality of flexible pad materials including a fiber materialare overlapped. The conventional shoulder pad is made as follows: athin, cylindrical hollow part is pre-formed within an inner part closeto one tip of the pad (to a shoulder); and a linear material made of ashape memory material is passed through one open end of the hollow partto the other end (the leading end of the material is first inserted).However, the shape of the shoulder pad itself is three-dimensionallycurved, and the linear material made of a shape memory material is alsocurved. Therefore, the insertion and passage require a lot ofmanufacturing time; and the leading end of the linear material made of ashape memory material may protrude and break clothes, or it may injurepeople in the worst case, unless an open end of the hollow part isclosed after insertion and passage.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 4-37217 (37217/1992)discloses a shoulder pad wherein a flexible pad material including afiber material is folded in two, then a linear material made of a shapememory alloy or a net made of a shape memory alloy is positioned alongthe crease. Although the workability for manufacturing this pad has beenimproved, because the pad material is folded in two parts to put a shapememory material within the pad, as the shape memory material ispositioned along the crease, the position of shape memory material islimited on the crease, and the degree of freedom tends to be less. Inparticular, in this pad, the crease can be a tip of the pad (a tip of ashoulder); the shape memory material is always positioned along a tip ofa shoulder; if the shape memory material is desired to be positionedalong a inner side by a certain distance from a tip of a shoulder, it isvery difficult to position the material, and the workability worsens.Unless an open end of a hollow part after insertion and passage isclosed, a leading end of a linear material made of the shape memorymaterial may protrude to damage clothes or to injure people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to overcome the problems ofconventional pads, in particular, to provide a pad, wherein the precisepositioning is obtained by positioning a curved shape memory materialwithin a curved pad, while obtaining good workability. Another aspect ofthe present invention is directed to prevent a shape memory materialfrom protruding through clothes to improve the safety of pad. A furtheraspect of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturinga pad which may achieve the purposes described above and which also hasa very high workability.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The first invention provides a pad in which a shape memory material 3 ispositioned within flexible pad materials 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, such as afiber material, wherein a pouch-like body 2 containing a shape memorymaterial 3 is positioned with the other pads materials 11, 12, 13, 14,15.

The second invention is to provide a pad according to the firstinvention, wherein a pouch-like body 2 comprises at least two pieces ofsheet-like bodies 21 and 22, which are connected to each other to form apositioning part 5, along which the shape memory material 3 ispositioned.

However, at least two pieces of sheet-like bodies 21 and 22 may becounted as two pieces by folding one sheet-like body in two. Therefore,the connection between two pieces of sheet-like bodies 21 and 22 may bemade by sewing or bonding, but the bodies may be considered to beconnected by the creased line of the two-folded sheet-like bodydescribed above: the positioning part 5 may be formed entirely orpartially by the creased line.

Thus, in the first and second invention, as the shape memory material 3is contained in a pouch-like body 2, the workability is good, and thepositioning is easy and certain: the pouch-like body 2 is preciselypositioned in a given position, whereby the shape memory material 3 isalso precisely positioned in a given position. If the shape memorymaterial is a long continuous material including a linear material, theshape memory material can be easily and precisely positioned bycontaining the material within the pouch-like body 2.

The third invention is to provide a pad according to the first or secondinvention, wherein the pouch-like body 2 has an opening 4 for insertingthe long continuous shape memory material 3 therethrough. The opening 4is formed in place within the pouch-like body 2.

The fourth invention is to provide a pad according to the first orsecond invention, wherein the pouch-like body 2 has an opening 4 whichopens along a longitudinal direction of the long continuous shape memorymaterial 3. The opening 4 opens at an end surface of the pad, so thatthe shape memory material 3 is inserted into and positioned within thepouch-like body 2 from the opening 4.

In the third invention, as the opening 4 is provided in a pouch-likebody 2, the shape memory material 3 can be positioned within thepouch-like body 2 by inserting the shape memory material 3 from theopening 4. As the opening 4 is provided at a predetermined position, atip of the long continuous shape memory material 3 cannot accidentallyprotrude from the opening 4 in putting on clothes with pads.

Especially, in the fourth invention, as the opening 4 is formed alongthe longitudinal direction of the long continuous shape memory material3, the opening 4 can be widely opened, and the shape memory material 3can be smoothly inserted into the opening 4, even if the shape memorymaterial 3 is curved and continuously long. In this case, if the lengthof the opening 4 is equal to or longer than the length of the longcontinuous shape memory material 3, the shape memory material 3 can bevery smoothly inserted into the opening 4 without force. However, thelength of the opening 4 has no problems in practice, even if the lengthof the opening is shorter than the shape memory material 3, or when theshape memory material 3 is distorted or curved, or when the shape memorymaterial 3 has a length that requires the shape memory material 3 to beinclinedly inserted. Then, in this insertion, the shape memory material3 can be inserted so that the shape memory material 3 can reach the backof the pouch-like body 2 (the bottom), whereby the shape memory material3 is naturally positioned along the positioning part 5 with only onemotion, such as a push of the shape memory material 3.

However, the opening 4 may be completely closed in the finished end ofthe pad, but, even if the opening 4 is not completely closed, the padcan maintain safety, because the opening 4 is not on the line extendingfrom the ends of the long continuous shape memory material 3.

The fifth invention provides a pad according to the third or fourthinvention, wherein the pad has the higher stability, because the shapememory material 3 is fixed in the pad by a fixing means, such as sewing,after the shape memory material is inserted through the opening 4 withinthe pad, and is positioned along the positioning part 5 naturally.

The sixth invention provides a pad according to each invention describedabove, wherein the part on the line extending from the longitudinaldirection of the long continuous shape memory material 3 of thepouch-like body 2 is closed to form protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6.

The seventh invention provides a pad according to the sixth invention,wherein the part on the line extending from the longitudinal directionof the long continuous shape memory material 3 of the pouch-like pad 2is closed to form protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6. Theprotrusion-preventing parts 6, 6 are formed so that two pieces ofsheet-like bodies 21 and 22 can be connected to each other, while atleast one of the two pieces of sheet-like bodies, is folded back to beoverlapped on the other sheet-like body. Each sheet-like body ispositioned either over or under the shape memory material.

In the sixth and seventh invention, as the part on the line extendingfrom the longitudinal end of the long continuous shape memory material 3is closed, the end of the long continuous memory material 3 can beprevented from protruding from the pad. Especially, in the seventhinvention, the protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6 are formed by connectingsheet-like bodies 21, 22 to each other. At least one of two pieces ofsheet-like bodies (each body is positioned over or under the shapememory material 3) is folded back to overlap the other sheet-like body.The protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6 will be made by the foldedsheet-like bodies 21, 22, whereby it is very difficult for the end ofthe shape memory material 3 to protrude. Therefore, the safety of thepad can be further improved.

The eighth invention provides a pad having a shape memory material 3from the front to the back of the shoulder k of Western clothes and anopening 4 from the front to the back of the shoulder k along an edge ofthe shoulder tip k1 of the shoulder pad. At the back of the opening 4, apositioning part 5 is formed, which positions the shape memory material3. The positioning part 5 is formed by connecting the pad materials 21and 22 (each pad material is over or under the shape memory material 3)and is positioned along the positioning part 5 after insertion from theopening 4.

As the pad of the eighth invention is formed along an edge of the sideof the shoulder tip k1 of the shoulder pad, the shape memory material 3from the front to the back of the shoulder k can be smoothly insertedinside. When inserting, the length of the opening 4 should be equal toor longer than the length of the long continuous shape memory material3. However, even if the length of the opening 4 is shorter than thelength of the long continuous shape memory material 3, when the shapematerial 3 is curved or distorted, or when the shape memory material 3has a length which the shape memory material 3 is inclinedly inserted,there are no problems in positioning the shape memory material 3.Moreover, as the positioning part 5, which defines the position of theshape memory material 3, is formed at the back of the opening 4, theshape memory material 3 is naturally positioned along the positioningpart 5 by inserting the shape memory material 3 to reach the back, sothat only a motion, such as a push of the shape memory material 3,completes the positioning.

The ninth invention provides a pad according to the eight invention,wherein the protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6 are formed at the both endsof the positioning part 5. The protrusion-preventing part 6, 6 is formedby connecting the pad materials 21, 22 each other, while at least one oftwo pad materials 21, 22, over and under the shape memory material 3.The shape memory material 3 is inserted between two pad materials 21, 22over and under the shape memory material 3 through the opening 4 opened,positioned along the positioning part 5, and put between theprotrusion-preventing part 6, 6 described above.

In the ninth invention, as the pad has protrusion-preventing part 6, 6formed by overlapping after at least one of two pad materials 21, 22 isfolded back, the protrusion of the shape memory material 3 is positivelyprevented. In addition, as the shape memory material 3 is positionedalong the positioning part 5, and put between the protrusion-preventingparts 6, 6 described above, the stability of the shape memory material 3in the pad will be improved.

The tenth invention provides a manufacturing method of a pad in which along continuous shape memory material is positioned in a flexible padmaterial including a fiber material, as follows. First, continuous padmaterials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a are joined together to form two padsin right and left sides, each having a continuous pouch-like body 2d.The two pouch-like pads in right and left sides are overlapped. Secondlythe continuous pad material 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a and the continuouspouch-like body 2a are cut to position the two pad members in right andleft sides. Therefore, the pad member provides a pouch-like body 2, ofwhich an edge cut during the process described above opens and gives anopening 4, and of which the other edge gives a positioning part 5 whichhas been closed, so that each pouch-like body 2 of each pad member canbe arranged with another pad material 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Then the padis manufactured so that the shape memory material 3 can be inserted fromthe opening 4 of a pouch-like body of each pad member to be along thepositioning part 5.

In the tenth invention, by cutting the continuous pad materials 11a,12a, 13a, 14a, 15a and the continuous pouch-like body 2a into two rightand left pieces, not only two pads can be simultaneously manufactured,but also the pouch-like body 2 having the opening 4 with an adequatelength can be obtained. By inserting the shape memory material 3 intothe pouch-like body 2, a pad having the shape memory material 3 can beeasily manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pad of a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pad wherein an opening is opened.

FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view of the pad, and FIG. 3 (B) is a front view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pouch-like body of the pad.

FIG. 5 is a illustrative view showing a position for using the pad.

FIGS. 6(A)-(F), hereinafter referred to as FIG. 6, are illustrativeviews.

FIG. 7 (A) is a plan view of a pouch-like body of the pad,

FIG. 7 (B) is a plan view wherein the pouch-like body is decomposed.

FIG. 8 (A) is a plan view wherein each material of the pad isoverlapped,

FIG. 8 (B) is a side view wherein each material of the pad is adhesivelyformed,

FIG. 8 (C) is a plan view showing the pad cut.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, referring to the embodiments of the present invention according tothe drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pad according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, while FIG. 2 is a perspective view wherein theopening of the pad is open. FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view of the pad, FIG. 3(B) is a front view. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pouch-like bodyof the pad, while FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a position which thepad is used.

The pad 1 is a shoulder pad for various clothes, such as formal clothesincluding a blazer and a school uniform, or such as casual clothesincluding a dress and a blouse, as shown in FIG. 5. The pad 1 is sewn inthe upper side of a shoulder k of a blazer b similar to a typical pad.The pad 1 is curved so that it can extend from the front to the back ofthe shoulder (from the front surface to the back surface) giving theupper side of the shoulder of clothes the center. Similar to a typicalshoulder pad, the thickness of the side of shoulder tip (the boundarybetween the shoulder and arm) is greater, getting thinner towards thewearer's neck. In this pad 1, a shape memory material 3 extending overthe front and the back of the shoulder is positioned at an inner partcloser to the shoulder tip.

In the shoulder pad 1, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the shape memory material3 is positioned within layers which flexible pad materials 11, 12, 13,14, and 15, such as fiber material, are overlapped. Non-woven fabrics,textures, knits, cottons, and flexible synthetic resins includingurethane can be used as the pad material. In this embodiment, although aplurality of layers of pad materials 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 areoverlapped to make the pad, the number of pieces to be overlapped can bechanged. For example, only one sponge-like pad member may be used toposition the shape memory material. However, in this figure, the outsidepad material 11 is shown with a thickness "line" as respectively thinnernon-woven fabrics or textures used.

For the shape memory material 3, shape memory alloys or shape memoryresins are used, and the shape memory material can be one or plurallinear, in net, in knit, or in texture, which is a surface shape memorymaterial have an approximate area equal to that of another pad material.The suitable shape memory materials can recover its memorized shapeaccording to a temperature approximately equal to the wearer's bodytemperature. Shape memory materials, which show a given shape, may beadopted depending on wearing or drying after washing. In thisembodiment, one linear material made of shape memory material is used.According to changes of the shape, the entire shape of the pad can bemolded to a desired shape.

The shape memory material 3 is inserted from the opening 4 provided atthe end surface of the shoulder tip k1 of the shoulder pad 1, into theshoulder pad 1. That is, the opening 4 is formed along an edge of theside of the shoulder tip k1 of the pad to extend forward and backwardrelative to the shoulder. The positioning part 5, which defines aposition of the shape memory material 3, is formed at the back of theopening (an appropriate position into the neck side from the shouldertip of the shoulder pad). The positioning part 5 is formed by closingtwo pieces of sheet-like bodies 21, 22. However, the sheet-like bodiesare thin and are represented as a "line" in the figure. The way to closeis to fix two pieces of sheet-like bodies 21, 22 by bonding or sewing orwith metal fasteners. The fixation may be conducted in continuouslylinear, or some points of the bodies 21, 22 may be fixed intermittently.In short, the fixation should prevent the shape memory material 3 fromproceeding to the position deeper than the position where the shapememory material is fixed, so that the sheet-like bodies may contact onthe shape memory material 3.

In this embodiment, the sheet-like bodies 21, 22 forming the opening 4are used as pouch-like body 2. As the pouch-like body material, asheet-like pad material as flexible as another pad material 11, 12, 13,14, and 15 is used. More preferably, smooth woven fabrics like thickcloth such as sailcloth or denims may be used, but thinner cloth alsomay be used. Woven forms and threads can be freely changed. Thepouch-like body 2 may be overlapped in two or three or more layers.

The pouch-like body 2 is a pouch having a bottom, wherein one of longeropposite edges opens to provide the opening 4, while the other end oflonger opposite edge is closed to provide the positioning part 5. Theprotrusion-preventing part 6, 6 is formed by closing two oppositeshorter edges, so that the shape memory material 3 can not protrudetoward its front or back direction. That is, when the opening 4 isregarded as a mouth of a pouch, and the positioning part 5 is regardedas a bottom of the pouch, this protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6 are tobe positioned at the sides of the pouch. Although the sides of the pouchare not required to close, by closing the sides, the sides are utilizedfor a protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6.

The shape memory material 3 is inserted from the opening 4. Wheninserting, the opening 4 can be opened widely as shown in FIG. 2. So theshape memory material 3 can be very easily inserted through the opening4 widely opened to the deeper site from the shoulder tip k1. When theshape memory material 3 is inserted until the shape memory material 3touches the positioning part 5 at the back, the position of the shapememory material is determined naturally. That is, the shape memorymaterial 3 will positioned along the positioning part 5, in other wordsthe shape memory material 3 is adjacent to the positioning part 5. Inparticular, as shown in FIG. 3, the shape memory material 3 is curved,when seen from top or front. Although it was very difficult to preciselyposition the dimensionally curved shape memory material 3 to insert withgood workability, if the opening 4 open through the approximately entirelength of the shape memory material is widely opened from the front tothe back of the shoulder to the shoulder tip k1, the shape memorymaterial 3 can be easily inserted. In addition, only if the shape memorymaterial 3 is inserted to touch the positioning part 5 at the back, theprecise positioning can be conducted. However, one piece of thesheet-like body 2 can be folded in two to form the pouch-like body. Inthis case, the crease showing the sheet-like body folded in two will bethe bottom of the pouch, that is, the positioning part 5. However, asdescribed, it is more advantageous to form the positioning part 5 bymeans of the fixation including sewing and bonding in that thepositioning part 5 can be formed corresponding to the shape of thecurved shape memory material 3.

Furthermore, by the protrusion-preventing parts 6,6, the positions ofthe ends of the shape memory material 3 are designed to touch theprotrusion-preventing parts 6,6 with only insertion until the shapememory material 3 is touching the positioning part 5 at the back, whilethe forward and backward positions of the shoulder can be simultaneouslyand precisely determined. In addition, the forward and backward ends ofthe shape memory material 3 can be prevented from protruding, becausethe protrusion-preventing parts 6, 6 touches the forward and backwardends of the shape memory material 3, even when the shape memory material3 tries to move in wearing, so that the risks of injuring clothes orpeople will be eliminated. However, in this embodiment, the safety inaccidental protrusions is enhanced by attaching caps 31, 31 made ofsynthetic resins at the forward and backward ends of the shape memorymaterial 3.

Although the inserted shape memory material 3 can remain, as shown inFIG. 1, it can be fixed with the thread n1 by sewing with a sewingmachine. The sewing in the pouch-like body 2 can be positioned closer tothe shoulder tip from the shape memory material so that the shape memorymaterial 3 can be fixed between the sewn part and the positioning part5. As shown in FIG. 1, the shape memory material can be centered andsewn to fix the thread n1 with zigzagging. By another means such asbonding, the fixation of the shape memory material 3 can be designedwith fixation in place between the two sheet-like bodies 21, 22 of thepouch-like body 2. However, fixation by sewing or bonding can beentirely conducted over the sheet-like material 21, 22. That is, whilethe shape memory material 3 is positioned on the position part 5, twosheet-like bodies 21, 22 of the pouch-like body 2 can be joined to eachother to close the opening 4.

As this shoulder pad 1 is sewn in the shoulder of clothes, as inconventional shoulder pads, when sewing, if the shape memory material 3is precisely defined, the needle for sewing cannot touch the shapememory material, whereby a break of the needle can be prevented.

Now a method for manufacturing a pad will be described. First,continuous pad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 15a forming asymmetrical pair each with a continuous pouch-like body 2a are prepared.The shoulder pad 1 is formed by overlapping a plural of layers ofapproximately half-oval pad materials 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Thus, padmaterials 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, with a half-oval shape, which form thelayers, are respectively symmetrically connected to provide a single,approximately oval continuous pad material 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 14arespectively (see FIG. 6). As the continuous pad materials areoverlapped to make several layers, the shape, size, thickness, orquality can be changed depending on each layer as in the conventionalshoulder pad.

The continuous pouch-like body 2a has an approximately oval shape with acombination of two approximately half-oval pouch-like bodies 2, whereeach body faces each other. In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, thecontinuous pouch-like body 2a is respectively composed of singlecontinuous sheet-like bodies 21a, 22a which oppose each other, with twosheet-like bodies 21, 22 comprising the sheet-like body 2 describedabove. Although both continuous sheet-like bodies 21a, 22a have theapproximately same shape, one of the continuous sheet-like bodies 22a isformed forward and backward longer than the other continuous sheet-likebody 21a. The forward and backward extending parts are given as thefolded-back parts 6a, 6a. Continuous sheet-like materials 21a, 22aoverlap each other, and the folded-back parts 6a, 6a are folded back tothe surface of one of the continuous sheet-like materials 21a. Thefolded-back parts 6a, 6a cause the end of the pouch to be closed,whereby the protrusion-preventing part 6 of the complete pouch-like body2 is formed. However, in this figure, although only one of thecontinuous sheet-like bodies 21a is provided with the folded-back part,both of two sheet-like bodies can be folded back. Then at the both sidesof the overlapped continuous sheet-like materials 21a, 22a, thepositioning part 5 described above is formed by sewing with the threadn2. However, although the folded-back parts 6a, 6a may be sewn on withthe thread n2, only folding back facilitates good fixing. Thepositioning part 5 as well as the protrusion preventing part 6 can beformed by providing a crease. Instead of sewing, another means forattaching including bonding can be utilized.

As shown in FIG. 8(A), continuous pad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and15a, and continuous pouch-like body 2a are overlapped so that thesymmetrical centers can be aligned. In this embodiment, two pieces ofcontinuous pad material 11a and 12a are designed to come over thecontinuous pouch-like body 2a. Three continuous pad materials 13a, 14a,and 14a are designed to layer under the continuous pouch-like body 2a.However, these positions can be suitably changed depending on theposition which the shape memory material 3 is placed.

Then, the overlapped continuous pad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and15a, and the continuous pouch-like body 2a are bonded and provided withshape. In particular, an adhesive is applied to at least the continuouspad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 15a, which are vertically layered,or top the continuous pouch-like body 2a (this adhesive applicationshould be done prior to overlapping). As shown in FIG. 8(b), theoverlapped continuous pad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, and thecontinuous pouch-like body 2a (in FIG. 8(b), marks are represented byonly 11a) are placed on the press stand p1. On the press stand p1, theyare pressed with the press die and steam is injected. The heat of steamcauses each material to be formed into a curved shape and to bond toeach other b y the adhesive. However, the adhesive is not appliedbetween the continuous sheet-like bodies 21a and 22a forming thecontinuous pouch-like body 2a, and they are not bonded to each other.However, marks for positioning can be provided for each material, sothat the positions of continuous pad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and15a, and the continuous pouch-like body 2a may be precisely aligned; orthey can be fitted so as not to cause a difference.

The continuous pad materials 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, and 15a and thecontinuous pouch-like body 2a, which are overlapped and bonded, will becut to make a symmetrical pair of pad members pa, pa (this pad is a padof the present invention, but the shape memory material 3 has not beeninserted). The cut surface of the end forms the shoulder tip k1, and thepad member, which has the end surface of the shoulder tip k1 is clearlyperfect, can be produced, while the opening 4 is formed in thepouch-like body 2 on the end surface of the shoulder pad k1. However, apart x to be discarded after cutting is shown with a shaded portion inFIG. 8 (C) and FIG. 6.

After the pad members pa, pa have been formed, the shape memory material3 is inserted from the opening 4 and fixed by sewing or the like tocomplete the pad containing the shape memory material. In this case, asshown in FIG. 3 (A) and FIG. 4, the engagement parts 7, 7 can beprovided. The engagement part 7 is formed forward of the positioningpart 5 of the ends of the pouch-like body. One end of the shape memorymaterial 3 is inserted between the engagement 7 and the positioning part5; and then, the other part of the shape memory material 3 is insertedbetween the engagement part 7 and the positioning part 5. This insertionmakes the positions of the ends of the shape memory material 3 moreprecise. Moreover, when the other end is inserted after one end of theshape memory material 3, the position of the end, which has beeninserted, can be prevented from moving.

This engagement part 7 can be formed by sewing sheet-like bodies 21, 22to each other, but the sheet-like bodies 21, 21 can be formed by otherfixing means including bonding.

The interval of the engagement parts 7, 7 is set shorter than the lengthof the long continuous shape memory material 3. The length should beone-half times as the length of the long continuous shape memorymaterial 3, but even if the length is shorter, when the shape memorymaterial can be curved or distorted, or when the shape memory materialcan be long enough to be inclinedly inserted, there are no adverseaffects.

The pad of this invention can be made by another method: for example,right and left pads are separately made. Pad materials except thepouch-like material is previously layered, and then the pouch-like bodyis inserted among the pad materials. Moreover, in the embodimentdescribed above, although the positioning part 5 is formed along theoutward line of the pouch-like body 2, the shape of the positioning part5 and the shape of the pouch-like body 2 may not always correspond, butthe shape of the pouch-like body 2 may greatly extend outside thepositioning part 5. In particular, the entire size of the pouch-likebody 2 can be made as large as the size of the entire pad (i.e. the samesize as the pad material 11) to form the positioning part 5 on asuitable place.

The opening 4 of the pouch-like body 2 is provided at the edge of theshoulder tip side of the shoulder pad 1, but it may be provided atanother position (along the line extending from the ends of the longcontinuous shape memory material). In the embodiment described above,the pouch-like body 2 is previously inserted and positioned in the padprior to inserting the shape memory material 3, but the shape memorymaterial 3 can be previously inserted into the pouch-like body 2, whichmay be positioned in the pad. In forming the pouch-like body 2, theshape memory material 3 can be pre-positioned, so that, with the shapememory material put between the sheet-like bodies 21, 22, they can besewn to complete the pouch-like body 2. However, for the embodimentstated above, it is more advantageous for the pouch-like body 2 to bepre-positioned in the pad before the shape memory material 3 inserted,because the work before the insertion of the shape memory material 3 canbe conducted in a flat manner, judging from the workability. However,the pad for the present invention is not limited to the shoulder pad andcan be embodied as another pad including a breast pad.

The first invention in the present application provides a pad whereinthe arrangement of the shape memory material can be effectively andprecisely positioned, and good productivity can be obtained, by using apouch-like body.

The second invention provides a pad wherein the position of the shapememory material can be more precise by using the positioning part in thepouch-like body, in addition to the structure of the first inventionabove.

The third invention provides a pad wherein the shape memory material canbe positioned in the pouch-like body by inserting the long continuousshape memory materials from the opening, and wherein the leading end ofthe long continuous shape memory material is prevented from accidentallyprotruding when wearing clothes with the pads by positioning the openingexcept the line extending from the ends of the long continuous shapememory material.

The fourth invention provides a pad wherein the opening can be widelyopened, wherein the shape memory material can be positioned by preciselypositioning. When the curved shape memory material is positioned in thecurved pad, good productivity can be obtained.

The fifth invention provides a pad wherein the shape memory material canbe precisely positioned with stability, in addition to the effect of thethird or fourth invention.

The sixth invention provides a pad wherein the shape memory material canbe prevented from protruding the pad, and the safety of the pad can beenhanced.

The seventh invention provides a pad in which the shape memory materialcan be prevented from protruding and the safety of the pad can befurther enhanced, in addition to the effect of the sixth invention.

The eighth invention provides a pad, in particular, an ideal pad as ashoulder pad used for clothes including a school uniform and a blazerwherein the shape memory material can be positioned by preciselypositioning. When the curved shape memory material is positioned in thecurved pad, good productivity can be obtained.

The ninth invention provides a pad in which the shape memory materialcan be prevented from protruding and the stability of the pad can befurther enhanced, in addition to the effect of the eighth invention.

The tenth invention provides a manufacturing method of a pad by whichthe pad according to each invention can be mass-produced under goodproductivity.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art wereintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A pad with shape memory comprising:a plurality of flexiblefiber pad materials; a first sheet body with a first perimeter and afirst area; a second sheet body with a second perimeter and a secondarea, said first and second sheet bodies are disposed between saidplurality of fiber pad materials; means for connecting a substantialportion of said first perimeter to said second perimeter; an apertureformed by portions of said first perimeter spaced apart from said secondperimeter; a pouch portion formed between said first sheet and saidsecond sheet and communicating with said aperture; and a bodythermosensitive shape memory material has a third area and is disposedbetween said first and second sheet bodies in said pouch portion, saidshape memory material contacts said means for connecting, said means forconnecting limits movement of said shape memory material, said first andsecond areas are substantially larger than said third area, whereby saidmeans for connecting and said pouch portion with said shape memorymaterial properly position said pad on a body of a wearer while saidmeans for connecting substantially reduces penetration of said shapememory material through said first and second sheet bodies.
 2. The padwith shape memory according to claim 1, wherein said means forconnecting includes at least one of intermittent sewn thread, continuoussewn thread, adhesives, metal fasteners, and folding said first sheetbody with said second body.
 3. The pad with shape memory according toclaim 1, wherein said flexible fiber pad materials include at least oneof non-woven fabrics, textures, knits, cottons, and flexible syntheticresins.
 4. The pad with shape memory according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second sheet bodies include at least one of smooth wovenfabrics, sailcloth, and denim.
 5. The pad with shape memory according toclaim 1, wherein said shape memory material includes at least one ofalloys and resins.
 6. The pad with shape memory according to claim 5,wherein said shape memory material has a first and a second end, saidshape memory material further includes a synthetic resin cap disposed oneach end thereof.
 7. The pad with shape memory according to claim 6,wherein said shape memory material has a rectilinear shape.
 8. The padwith shape memory according to claim 1, wherein said flexible fiber padmaterials and said first and second sheet bodies have a shoulder shapeof a human body.
 9. A method of manufacturing a pad with shape memory,the method comprising the steps of:providing a body thermosensitiveshape memory material; providing a plurality of flexible fiber padmaterials; providing a first sheet body with a first perimeter and afirst area; providing a second sheet body with a second perimeter and asecond area; placing the plurality of flexible fiber pad materials andsaid first and second sheet bodies in a stacked arrangement; placingsaid first and second sheet bodies between said plurality of fiber padmaterials; connecting a substantial portion of said first perimeter tosaid second perimeter to form a pouch portion; forming an aperture whichcommunicates with said pouch portion by spacing a portion of said firstperimeter spaced apart from said second perimeter; and placing saidshape memory material in said pouch portion, wherein the connectionbetween the first perimeter and second perimeter and said pouch portionwith said shape memory material properly positions said pad on a body ofa wearer while the connection between the first perimeter and secondperimeter substantially reduces penetration of said shape memorymaterial through said first and second sheet bodies.
 10. The method ofmanufacturing a pad with shape memory according to claim 9, furthercomprising the steps of:applying an adhesive to each pad material ofsaid plurality of the flexible fiber pad materials; pressing saidplurality of flexible fiber pad materials with a press die; and heatingsaid plurality of flexible fiber pad materials with steam.
 11. Themethod of manufacturing a pad with shape memory according to claim 9,further comprising the step of cutting the plurality of flexible fibermaterials into a plurality of equally sized portions.
 12. The method ofmanufacturing a pad with shape memory according to claim 9, wherein saidconnecting step further includes sewing thread between said first andsecond sheet bodies.
 13. The method of manufacturing a pad with shapememory according to claim 9, wherein said connecting step furtherincludes folding portions of said first and second sheet bodies one uponanother and sewing the folded portions together.
 14. The method ofmanufacturing a pad with shape memory according to claim 9, furthercomprising the step of providing said shape memory material withsynthetic resin caps disposed on each end thereof.
 15. The method ofmanufacturing a pad with shape memory according to claim 9, furthercomprising the step of shaping said flexible fiber pad materials, saidfirst and second sheet bodies, and said shape memory material into ashoulder shape of a human body.